Stenciling apparatus



Feb. 11, 1941. D. souslzn STENCILING APPARATUS Filed March 17, I938 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. L.D- Soubier,

BY Y

0 T/ v 4, 7E r 5 A TTO Patented Feb. 11, 19.41

STENCILIN G APPARATUS Leonard D. Soubier, Toledo, Ohio, assignor toOwens-Illinois Glass. Company, a corporation of Ohio Application March17, 1938, Serial N... 196,40

8 Claims.

The present invention relates toimprovements in stenciling' apparatusand more particularly to an apparatus for decorating, lettering, orotherwise marking the opposite sides of bottles or like articles havingflat sides. The principal object of the invention is to provide astenciling apparatus which is fully automatic in its operation; whichwill receive the bottles or other articles in a receiving zone; orient wthe same 'for decorative contact of one face thereof with a stencilscreen positioned in a decorating zone; convey the same, properlyoriented, through said, zone; orient the partially decorated bottles fordecorative contact of the opposite face thereof with a stencil screenpositioned in a second decorating zone; convey the same, properlyoriented, through the second decorating zone; and finally convey thefully decorated bottles to an article removal zone for removal from theapparatus.

Another object of the invention, in an apparatus of the character setforth above, is to provide a novel and effective means for orienting thebottles received .thereby prior to presentation thereof at the firstdecorating station.

Another object of the invention, in such an apparatus, is to provide anovel and effective means for orienting the bottles undergoing decoration between decorating operations. A further object of the inventionis to provide such an apparatus in which there is incorporated a novelform of stencil screen construction by means of which the decorationsapplied' to the opposite faces of the bottles are uniformly centeredthereon.

Other objects of the invention, not at this time particularlyenumerated, will become apparent hereinafter.

In the accompany n drawings:

Fig.1 is a side elevational view of a stenciling apparatus manufacturedin accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2- 2 ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially pairs of front and rearstandards i6 and I1 respectively. The conveyor I0 is driven by a 10motor M to which driving connection is effected by a chain ill or likeelement.

The conveyor l0 carries a series of article holding units l9 which areadapted to support botles B or other similar articles to be decorated in15 succession beneath a pair of stencil screens S and S, the latterbeing arranged in series above the conveyor. Supporting rails 20 and 2i(see also Fig. 2) are supported at theirtrear ends from the standards I!by means of a pair of sim- 20 ilar brackets, one of which is shown at22. The front ends of the rails 20 and 2| are supported from thestandards l6 by means of brackets 23 and 24 respectively. The rails 20and 2| and various supporting brackets all comprise a part 25 of thestationary framework of the apparatus. The rails 20 and 2| assist insupporting the weight of the article holding units 19 which passthereover.

' tation to and decorative cooperation with the stencil screen S in thefirst decorating zone. In passing from thefirst decorating zone Z to thesecond decorating zone 2, a second orienting mechanism 0 positioned inthe path of movement of the units 19 is designed for successivecooperation therewith to invert the bottles B and present the other facethereof to the stencil screen S for decorative cooperation therewith. 45

Toward these ends, each article holding unit l9 (Fig. 2) comprises anelongated frame 30 positioned outside of the endless surface of theconveyor Ill, and connected to and supported by adjacent conveyor links3| by means of a pair of conveyor pintles 32. Rollers 25 mounted on theends of the pintles 32 serve to tractionally support the frame 30 on thesupporting rails 20 and 2! The frame of each holding unit It carries a apair of cooperating chucks which are disposed at opposite sides of theconveyor ill. The head chuck 33 is mountedupon a slide 34 and includesan elastic cup 35 mounted upon a holder 38 which in turn is supported bya short shaft 31. The shaft 31 is mounted for rotation in a bearing 38provided on the slide 34. A coil spring 40, connecting the inner end ofthe slide 34 and the frame 30, tends to move the entire head chuckassembly 33 to its' innermost article-engaging position with the neckportion of the bottle B nested within the elastic cup 35.

' A base chuck 4| supported at the opposite end of the frame30'cooperates with the head chuck 33 in supporting the bottle B inposition for decoration thereof. Toward this end, the base chuck 4|includes a rotaryhead 42 carrying a block or pad 43 of rubber or likematerial having acavity 44 formed therein conforming substantially tothe rectangular shape of the base of the bottle B. The head 42 includesa short horizontal shaft 45 journalled in a bearing 46 which constitutesan integral part of the frame 30. A disk 41 which is secured to theshaft 45 is provided with a projecting eccentric pip 39 designed forcooperation with the orienting mechanism 0 while the disk itself isdesigned for cooperation with the orienting mechanism 0 in a manner andfor a purpose subsequently to be described.

The head 42 is cylindrical in form and is provided with a pair ofdiametrically opposed-depressions d (Fig. 4) each of which has arelative- 1y sharply inclined side 28 and a relatively graduallyinclined side 48. A spring pressed holding detent 49 which is slidablyguided in a socket 55 provided in a bracket 5| formed on the frame 30and which overlies the head 42, bears against the cylindrical side ofthe head and is adapted to successively enter the depressions (1 uponsuccessive reversals of the base chuck 4|.

, Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the article receiving zone isdesignated at Z and is situated at the forward end of the conveyor Illwhile the article removal zone Z is situated at the rear end thereof. 1In placing the bottles in position on the article holding units l9between the head chuck 33 and base chuck 4|, the loading operatorstationed at the receiving zone Z engages the head chuck 33 with theneck of a bottle B and causes the slide 34 to be moved outwardly topermit thebase of the bottle to clear the base chuck 4| for positioningthereon. need not be concerned with the angular position of theindividual base chucks, either at the time the empty chucks an-ive inthe receiving zone Z,

, chucks 4| that one flat face of the bottle carried rthereby assumes ahorizontal position for presen- The loading operator tion strip 54 untilsuch time as the holding de- I! past the orienting mechanism 0 the disk41 slides or skids'on the friction strip 54. With the detent 48 inholding engagement with the head 42 in the manner just described, onesurface of the bottle B supported in the base chuck 4| assumes ahorizontal position after it has rounded the forward end of the conveyorand thus the bottle 13 becomes properly oriented for decoratingcooperation with the stencil screen S in the first decorating zone ZInasmuch as the depressions d formed in the periphery of the head 42 arediametrically opposed to each other, and in view of the fact that thepin 39 which is eccentricaily disposed on the disk 47 lies on the sameaxial plane as the plane of the'depressions d, the pin 39 assumes itsuppermost position on the disk 41 and remains in such position duringthe first decorating operation while the holder 9 passes through thedecorating zone Z Each bottle B carried by a holder I9 is adapted to bereversed in passing from the first decorating zone Z to the seconddecorating zone Z and accordingly, the orienting mechanism 0 comes intocooperation with the pin 39 which is eccentricaily mounted on the disk41. The orienting mechanism 0 comprises a yertically disposed plate 85secured to the rail 2| and having a. rearwardly and downwardly inclinedcam strip 66 projecting laterally therefrom. The cam strip '68 isdisposed in the path of movement of the pin 39 and is adapted to becontacted successively thereby in passing, thus causing the disk 41 tobe rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 untilsuch time as the pin 39 aschuck 4| is therefore reversed throughout an 3angle of one hundred and eighty degrees and the bottle is reversed sothat the decorated face thereof is turned downwardly while theundecorated face thereof is presented upwardly for proper presentationto the stencil screen S in the second decorating zone Z Still referringto Figs. 1 and 2, the two stencil screens S and S are of the cylindricaldrum type and each is supported upon a cylindrical framelike structureincluding a front retaining ring 55 which is connected by means of ribs56 to a circular plate 51 mounted upon a hub 58. The hub 58 is carriedby a shaft 59 which is selectively and rotatably receivable in any oneof a number of bearings 50 provided at different elevations on astandard 3| securedto the rail 2|; By proper selection of the bearings60, compensation may be made for stencil screens of different diameters.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the ribs 56 are equally spaced about theinsideof the drum-like screen S and S as'the case may be and each rib isprovided with oppositely inclined surfaces 63 which converge inwardlytoward a common apex 64.

The portions of the screen representing the design or designs to beapplied to the fiat surfaces of the bottles are indicated in Fig. 3 bydimension lines and occur between adjacent ribs 56.

Each stencil screen has associated therewith a is adapted to be actuatedwith the screen the vided with a vertical extension 15 and the end ofthe squeegee arm 1i remote from the squeegee S is pivotally connected tothe upper end thereof.

A coil spring 16 extending between the arm II and bracket 15 serves tonormally maintain the squeegee in its lowermost position. The rod 13 bya cam member 11 which is supported for rotation on a horizontal shaft18, the latter being rotatably supported between the brackets 23 and 24.

In the case of the squeegee S which cooperates with the stencil screensS, the mounting for the extension 83 mounted on one squeegee S issimilar to the mounting'just described. A separate pair of standards(Fig. 1) however are provided and serve to support therebetween a shaft8| similar to the shaft I8. A 'cam member 82 is secured to the shaft 6!for cooperation with the actuating rod 13 for the In lieu of the bracket23, an of the standards 88 serves to operatively support the varioussqueegee instrumentalities associated with the stencil screen S Theconveyor, shaft i3 and the shaft'l8 are operatively connected togetherby means of a squeegee arm I l.

chain 90 which passes over sprockets 9| and 92 on the respective shafts.Similarly the shafts l8 and M are connected together by a chain 93 andsprockets 94 and 95. The diameters of and the number 'of teeth providedon the sprockets 94 and 95 are identical and thus the shafts I8 and 8 Irotate in unison.

of the decorating operation the decorating zone as the performance onthe other face of The performance on one face of a bottle B at Z issubstantially the same of the decorating operation the bottleat the zoneZ former will sufflce for both. As previously stated,

each bottle issuing from the orienting mechanism O and rounding theforward end of the conveyor i0 approaches the stencil screen S with oneface thereof presented upwardly for decorative contact with the screen.The cam member 11 is so designed and angularly positioned on the shaft18 that, operating through the actuating rod 13, it serves to lower thesqueegee S precisely as the upper face of a bottle B comes into contactwith the stencil screen.- Referring now lowered shall not engage thescreen and commence its decorative contact therewith, the ribs.

56 are so spaced about the periphery of the drumlike screen that thesqueegee will come to rest thereupon successively each time the squeegeeis lowered. In order to insure registry of the squeegee with successiveribs 56, a spring holding detent Ilil (Fig. designed to cooperate with aplurality of shallow recesses llll formed on the plate 51.

The screen S is adapted to be rotated by direct tractional engagementthereof with the face of abottle undergoing decoration. Consequently, asthe bottle is moved beneath gee moves downwardly on the inclined surface03 of the rib 58 (Fig. 3) and comes into decorative contact with thescreen to force the coloring maand a description of the V to Fig. 3, inorder that the squeegee immediately upon being the screen, thesqueeteiialplaced The area in broken lines represents upwardly adjacentrib 56 and immediately thereafter cam member '8'! comesinto oper thesqueegee to a position completely out tact with any portionModifications may of the screen assembly. be resorted to within spiritand scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for applying decorations to the opposite sides ofbottles, holding units each including a supporting a bottle, ing saidunits succes and first and second imparting a predete to the chucksprior to arrival th decorating zone,

chucks through an angl eighty degrees as the same proceed decoratingzoneto 2. In an apparati the opposite sides of bottle holding units eachsupporting a bottle,

rotary chuck means and means for rotating traverses in performing etionof each decoon the next therein throu h the p rvious northe upwardlypresented Fig. 6 existing the the

ation to elevate of conthe a plurality of bottle for for continuouslymovsively past a receiving zone decorating zones, means for rmineddegree of angularity ereof at the first the e of one hundred and fromthe first the second decorating zone.

5 for applying decorations to s, a plurality of bottle including arotary chuck for means for continuously moving said units successivelypast a receiving zone and first and secon detent carried by the otherrecess.

3. In an apparatus the opposite holding units supporting a bottle,

each

detent for maintaining d decorating zones, a spring unit, a pair ofdiametrically disposed recesses in each chuck designed for cooperationwith said chuck in one of two positi between the receiving zone ing zoneand in the chucks for engaging same to cause said detent to enter one ofsaid 40 recesses, and means positioned between the first and seconddecorating ment of the chucks for engaging vrotating thesame to causesaid detent to the ons, means positioned and the first decoratthe thezones in the path of movethe latter and enter for applying decorationsto 45 sides of bottles, a plurality of bottle each including a rotarychuck for means for continuously moving said units successively past areceiving zone so and first and second decorating zones, 9. spring unit,a pair of diametri chuck designed detent carried by all for cooperationthe chuck in one recesses on each with said detent for maintainingpositions, means posi- 55 tioned between the receiving zone and thefirst decorating zoneand in the path of movement of the chucks forengaging the l each of two atter and rotating the same in one directionto cause said detent to' engage one of said recesses, between the firstand second the path of movem ing the latter and and means positioned 60decorating zones in cut of the chucks for engagrotatlng the same in theopposite direction to cause said detent to engage other recess.

,4. Inan apparatus for the opposite sides holding imits eachsupporting abottle,

of bottles,

includin the applying decorations to a plurality of bottle a rotarychuck for means for continuously moving said units successively past areceiving zone and first and second decorating zones, maintaining eachof said ngular positions means res apart, ceivlnz zone and chucks ineither of one hundred and eighty positioned between the the firstdecorating zone means for two and 75 positioned in the path of movementof the chucks for engaging the latter and rotating the same in onedirection to move the chucks to one position thereof, and meanspositioned between the 'flrst and second decorating zones in the path ofmovement of the chucks for engaging the latter and.

gress apart, means positioned between the re-- decorating zone andceiving zone and the first positioned in the path of movement of thechucks for engaging the latter and rotating-the same'to move the chucksto one position thereof, and means positioned between the first andsecond decorating zones in the path of movement of the chucks forengaging the latter and rotating the same to move the chucks to theother position thereof.

6. In an apparatus for applying decorations to the sides of articles, aplurality of bottle holding units each including a rotary chuck forsupporting a bottle, meansfor continuously moving said unitssuccessively past a receiving and first and second decorating zones,means for imparting a predetermined degree of angularity to the chucksprior to arrival thereof at the first decorating zone, a pineccentrically disposed on each chuck, and a cam positioned in the pathof movement of said pins between the first and decorating zones forsuccessive engagement therewith to rotate the chucks-and apply apredetermined degree of angularity to the chucks prior to arrival of thesame at the second decorating station.

7. In a stenciling apparatus, a cylindrical stencil screen mounted forrotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of ribs equally spacedabout .the periphery of said screen on the inside thereof, said screenincluding pervious portions between the ribs, means for moving a seriesof articles to be decorated successively beneath said screen indecorative relationship thereto in tangential ro1ling line contact withthe screen, the peripheral distance between adjacent ribs on saidscreen'being substantially equal to the extent of rolling contactbetween the screen and each article undergoing decoration, a squeegeedisposed within the screen, means normally urging said squeegee intocontact with the inside of the screen along the line of contact betweenthe screen and surfaces of the articles undergoing decoration, and aninclined surface on each rib adapted to pass beneath the squeegee andelevate the same after the squeegee has traversed the distance betweenone rib and the next adjacent one on the screen.

8. In a stenciling apparatus, a cylindrical'stencil screen mounted forrotation about a horizontal axis. said screen having tions thereonrepresenting spaced pervious pordesigns to be applied to a series ofarticles, means for moving a se-' ries of articles to be decoratedsuccessively beheath said screen in decorative relationship thereto intangential rolling line contact with the screen whereby the screen isperiodically rotated by such contact with the articles, and means foryieldingly holding the screen stationary between decorating operations.

IiEONARD D. SOUBIER.

